Yoo Kyung-soo, director general of the Aviation Safety Policy Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, on Feb. 13 gives a briefing on stronger safety regulations for power banks on flights at Government Complex-Sejong. (Yonhap News)

By Jeon Misun

Power banks and e-cigarettes from next month will be banned from storage in overhead bins on airplanes, with charging battery packs in-flight to also be prohibited.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Feb. 13 announced new safety guidelines for carrying both devices on a flight to take effect on March 1.

The decision was apparently in response to growing public fears over the danger posed by power banks on flights instigated by a Jan. 28 fire on an Air Busan flight, though the cause of the incident has not been released.

From next month, reserve batteries and e-cigarettes are banned from storage in a plane's overhead bins and instead must be kept on a passenger's person or in a seat pocket. Also prohibited is charging power packs using the in-flight power supply or from one pack to another.

The capacity of a power bank on a flight cannot exceed 160 watt-hours (Wh) for either carry on or check in. Five power banks of up to 100 Wh or two between 100 and 160 Wh will be allowed.

Yoo Kyung-soo, director general of the ministry's Aviation Safety Policy Bureau, said, "If a power bank is deemed to be the cause of the Air Busan fire, we will discuss with the International Civil Aviation Organization consideration of more regulations like limiting the number of battery packs in carry-on luggage."

msjeon22@korea.kr